Signing off

Join us tomorrow as we will continue to bring you all of the latest news, views and updates from the Black Cats camp ahead of Saturday’s trip to Watford.

15:45Mark Douglas

Heartbreaking

Heartbreaking.

15:44Mark Douglas

Jeff Stelling 'march for men'

Sunderland supporting the Jeff Stelling ‘March for men’.

Sunderland AFC will be supporting Jeff Stelling’s ‘March for Men’, as the long-standing Soccer Saturday presenter aims to raise £500,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, by walking 15 marathons in 15 days at the start of June.

Beginning on Thursday June 2 in Exeter, Stelling will visit more than 40 football clubs, heading up through the west of England via Bristol and Stoke and through the northern footballing hotbeds of Merseyside and Manchester, before cutting across the country and ending in the North East. Stelling’s boyhood club, Hartlepool United will also be en-route and he will start the final day at Durham County Cricket Club.

That final day will include a visit to Wearside with a stop at the Stadium of Light from Durham County Cricket Club, where Stelling is expected to be accompanied by former Sunderland AFC players and other well-known Sunderland supporters.

Stelling said: “After the agony and ecstasy of the walk last year, particularly the agony, so many people have been in touch with stories of their battle against prostate cancer, so many people who wanted to say thank you to me, to Russ Green, and to Prostate Cancer UK for their support.

“It makes me feel very humble but it also makes me feel very gratified that I’m in position where I can do something. Prostate Cancer kills one man ever hour in the UK, and I just decided I couldn’t sit on my backside and do nothing about it. I can put one foot in front of the next and hopefully raise awareness and raise funds to help men beat this diabolical disease.

“We also wanted a fresh route and because they shared the same ground name, we thought we would see how far it was between Exeter and Newcastle, and it’s worked out well. Crucially, it gives us that opportunity to go to parts of the country that we’ve not been to before to get our message over to people who maybe didn’t hear that message as loudly last time around. So that will be in the West Country, starting down in Exeter we’ll be heading up the country and ending in in the North East, where I know we will get a fantastic welcome.”

The mega event is part of Prostate Cancer UK’s wider walking programme, March for Men, which includes a trio of Local Walks across Father’s Day weekend, in London on June 17th and Leeds and Glasgow 24 hours later. The charity will also be encouraging supporters to hold their own marches to try and raise £1 million through walking in 2017.

172 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Sunderland and the money raised will have a huge impact on the lives of those affected by the disease and will help bring us one step closer to stopping prostate cancer being a killer.

Sky: Sunderland hit hardest by injuries this season

Sunderland have been hit hardest by injuries this term with 1,761 days lost so far, followed by West Ham (1,574), Hull City (1,434), Watford (1,388) and Crystal Palace (1,385).

In contrast, West Brom’s impressive season has been boosted by a league low 389 days of injuries, while Chelsea’s title tilt has benefited from just 444 days lost.

14:22Mark Douglas

Sunderland looking at Sam Johnstone?

Sunderland looking at Manchester United’s on-loan keeper Sam Johnstone? Currently playing for Villa. The theory is that Sunderland are looking at alternative options if Jordan Pickford leaves.

From Tribal Football:

The Black Cats were first linked with him in January after Jordan Pickford was ruled out for several weeks with a knee injury but that was just speculation with Johnstone quickly signing for Aston Villa on loan.

Villa boss Steve Bruce wants to make his loan deal a permanent one in the summer.

And with that comes fresh reports of Sunderland’s interest, with Everton and Bournemouth also reported to be keeping tabs on him.

13:43Mark Douglas

James Hunter argues nothing has changed re: Moyes

‘Nothing’s changed’.

13:07Sean McCormick

Former Black Cats handed international debuts

Congrats to former Sunderland youngsters John Egan and Conor Hourihane who made their Republic of Ireland debuts last night.

12:35Mark Douglas

SAFC scouts out and about at internationals

Sunderland scout watched Austria v Finland.

12:33Mark Douglas

Italian left-back linked

James on the Italian left-back linked with SAFC.

12:05Mark Douglas

SAFC interested?

Another transfer rumour.

11:16Mark Douglas

Defoe charity work

More lovely work from Defoe.

11:08Mark Douglas

Adam Masina?

Sunderland looking at a Serie A left-back?

Sunderland are lining up a summer swoop for Bologna left-back Adam Masina.

Masina is out of contract in 2019 and, with no extension currently in the offing, the Premier League club have been alerted to his potential availability.

Bologna are desperate to keep hold of him given his importance to the team – he has racked up 80 league appearances over the past three seasons.

However, the Morocco-born defender may decide he wants to try his hand in English football and could be given the chance by Sunderland if they manage to stay in the top-flight.

10:57Mark Douglas

SAFC academy graduates

Two Academy graduates played for Ireland last night.

10:04Mark Douglas

SAFC internationals

How Sunderland players did in the internationals.

09:53Mark Douglas

Moyes: Telegraph says he's staying

The full Moyes story from the Telegraph, in case you missed it:

09:33Mark Douglas

McNair on coming back

McNair on his comeback.

08:59Mark Douglas

What happens if SAFC go down

Another good line from the Telegraph report:

Although Sunderland have a bloated first team squad and too many average players on inflated wages, they are also partially protected by the fact all have a clause in their contracts which force them to take a 50% pay cut after relegation. That will reduce their annual wage bill from around £70m to £35m before players are sold.

Moyes is likely to sell England Under-21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and centre-back Lamine Kone to raise transfer funds to reshape the team regardless of whether they stay up or not.

Short is still trying to sell the club, but sources have indicated to Telegraph Sport that he accepts that is unlikely in their current situation and he will have to put more money in to help Moyes rebuild the team.

08:42Mark Douglas

Good watch, this

Beach therapy for SAFC pair.

08:08Mark Douglas

SAFC making contingency plans

Interesting line from the Sunderland report in the Telegraph:

Sunderland have not accepted they will be playing in the Championship next season and Moyes is adamant they can still avoid the drop. Sensibly, though, given their perilous position, contingency plans have been made and the Black Cats hierarchy will be prepared if the worst happens.

07:56Mark Douglas

Moyes to stay - relegation or not

Piece in today’s Daily Telegraph claims David Moyes will stay at Sunderland, relegation or not.

David Moyes has been told by owner Ellis Short that he will be kept on as Sunderland’s manager, even if they are relegated from the Premier League.

It is a remarkable vote of confidence in the former Manchester United and Everton manager, given the huge financial ramifications of falling out of the Premier League. However, Short is confident he has already got the man he needs to rebuild the club, regardless of what division they are in.

In turn, although Moyes has felt as though he has had one hand tied behind his back this season because of the terrible financial situation at the Stadium of Light.

Crucially, having sacked a manager every year since 2010, Short does not have the appetite for more upheaval. After so long resorting to short term firefighting, to cling on to top fight status, the American feels the only way forward is to stick with Moyes.